Week in Reflection

Thank YOU!

On April 25, 2016, we first shared that transportation to and from school was going to amended due to the enormous project on Maple Avenue. Well, if you have been around our school this week you will notice that the cones, and barrels are gone! A huge thank you to all of our city workers who worked in all types of conditions to finish this project. Some of the significant safety additions added near CHS include upgraded sidewalks, a crosswalk for our student adjacent to the student lot, and some well needed lighting. We are requesting increased lighting on the opposite side to brighten the crosswalk even more. It is quite refreshing in the morning and afternoon to see cars driving down Maple Ave.

Schedule Task Force Update

Fourteen teachers, three school counselors, and three administrators have spent the last six weeks collecting historical and tangible data from our school pertaining to our bell schedule. It is necessary that schools look at trends, strengths, and weaknesses when compiling these data points. A few weeks ago, we sent out a survey to students, staff, and parents that provided some important view points and qualitative data for our team.

This week, the team headed out to site visits. Our teachers are conducting informal observations, conversations, and interviews with students, staff, counselors, and administrators at Beachwood High School, Chagrin Falls High School, Hudson High School, and West Geauga High School.

Anyone can draw up a bell schedule, but seeing it in action is an essential component to understanding how schools implement the "words on paper."

Some of the biggest needs at Chardon High School is truly matching our minutes to our mission. If we truly live the mission of 'high achievement for all students where learning is our most important work'--then we need to take this time and reflect on our purpose as educators in the 21st century. In doing so, the most impactful lens that we can look through is academic intervention, and maximizing on our time, and opportunities for students.

Public education has changed significantly since you and I have been in school. No longer does the "one size fits all" mentality work in our ever-changing times. The new graduation requirements, end of year exams, College Credit Plus, and alternate schools create opportunities for public schools to refine not only their use of time, but innovative ways to reach across the learning needs of all students.

In the next few weeks, we will host a parent forum to share with you the work that this task force has collected, analyzed, and assessed.

Canterbury Tales Banquet

Students in Cindy Newman's AP Language and Composition class close out the Canterbury Tales with a banquet. The Canterbury Tales is the most famous and critically acclaimed work of Geoffrey Chaucer, a late-fourteenth-century English poet. Little is known about Chaucer’s personal life, and even less about his education, but a number of existing records document his professional life.

CHS Fall Play

The Learning Center Update

Pep Rally

Broadcast: Chardon H.S. Pep AssemblyDate: Friday, November 4th at 7:30amChardon H.S. Pep Assembly celebrating Cross Country Runners Mikaylie Park and Nate Kawalec trips to the upcoming State Cross Country Meets and the undefeated football team's trip to the playoffs.To view this event just click the link below:https://boxcast.tv/view/chardon-hs-pep-assembly-682593

Friday Night Football

We have certainly enjoyed an outstanding regular season for the Chardon Hilltoppers with exciting games and great support of the team. Coach Hewitt, his staff, and all of the athletes are ecstatic with the opportunity to host a playoff game this Friday, November 4, at 7:30 PM.

$8 pre-sale tickets are available in the CHS Athletic office during the following days/times:

Tuesday, 11/1, 7:30 am-4:00 pm

Wednesday, 11/2, 7:30 am-4:00 pm and 6:00-7:30 pm

Thursday, 11/3, 7:30 am-4:00 pm and 6:00-7:30 pm

Friday, 11/4, 7:30 am-3:00 pm

All tickets at the gate will be $9 for adults, seniors, and school-aged children 6 years and older. This is an OHSAA game. No passes can be accepted. The CHS Athletic Department receives a small portion of all pre-sale tickets. Get yours early and keep part of the proceeds here!

We are expecting a large crowd for this game. The Chardon Crazies have shared with us that it will be a RED-out. Please join us in living our core value of Community. Together, we will empower the "Toppers to victory!

Athletic Director, Doug Snyder, traveled to Columbus to receive the hosting rules for our home playoff game. We are requesting your assistance in ensuring that children are supervised adequately during this event. In addition, we appreciate you speaking with your children, if they are attending the games, concerning expected behavior and respect for property and the rights of others to attend a game without experiencing inappropriate behavior.

Our Hilltoppers are enjoying a historic run in football this year and our fans are regarded as among the best in the State of Ohio. See you at the game!

Week 10 Highlights

Entire Season Video Highlights

Pep Rally Video

Congratulations!

Send out all of your "Topper well-wishes to Nate Kawalec and Mikaylie Park who are representing Chardon High School in the State Cross Country State Championship.

No School, what!?

Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away...

The Beatles wrote this ballad in 1966 for the album, Help! How appropriate a song title and album for this past Thursday.

It was certainly a fast-paced morning at Chardon High School. As our communications shared- important decisions about school safety were made during a time where buses were in route, students were arriving via parent drop off, zero-period was in session, and staff were arriving. I am grateful-- so grateful to the complete team effort of our CHS Staff, Board Office Leadership, and Middle School Staff for the timeliness of clear decision making and effective outcomes.

I know the decision to cancel school at Chardon High School was the smartest, safest, and best decision with the known and unknown circumstances that we were facing. As of 5:00 pm on Thursday, all final repairs to the primary boiler chamber gasket were repaired, along with an exhaust stack. The air quality is safe. Our Administrative team, District Team, and Chardon Fire Department will continue to meet to debrief for action steps in preparedness. We are so thankful for the men and women that serve our local emergency services.

I am proud of the- Help! -and sharp focus of our school leadership response team-Yesterday. Our staff is ready to "Get Back" to working with their students to close out the week.

Academic Achievement: Topper Club Synopsis

Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to celebrate the achievements of your sons and daughters. Our core values recognize Achievement as an essential benchmark of the learning that transpires everyday at Chardon High School. We have extraordinary educators that prepare our students for college, career, and life readiness. Our students refine their learning in the classroom and demonstrate their abilities in so many skill sets in extra-curriculars, service, and clubs. We are truly blessed with goodness at Chardon, and I am proud not only to be graduate of Chardon High School, but to serve in the capacity as Principal.

Being a part of the Topper Club is an extraordinary accomplishment. Students being recognized at this event have maintained a GPA of 3.75 or higher. Looking throughout the gym that evening, we were all witnesses of the future leaders to our ever changing world. Together, our students are developing the skills seen in engineers, doctors, lawyers, educators, chemists, trades, and truly philanthropic values. Our students see the good in others and respond to the needs of others. Service Leadership is the fabric that guides the purposeful decisions of our students being recognized at the Topper Club Awards.

National Merit Finalist

About 1.5 million students in some 22,000 high schools enter the National Merit Scholarship competition annually when they take the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®). Semifinalists are the highest-scoring program entrants in each state and represent the top 0.5% percent of the state’s senior students.To be considered for a National Merit Scholarship, Semifinalists have to fulfill requirements to advance to Finalist standing. Each Semifinalist submits a detailed scholarship application, which includes essays and information about extracurricular achievements, awards, and leadership positions. Semifinalists also have to have an outstanding academic record, be endorsed and recommended by a school official, and earn SAT scores that confirm their qualifying test performance. From truly his infancy, this young man was the epitome of asking the question, why. He is a lifelong learner, a musician, service oriented, drum major, academic ninja, and pretty smooth on the dance floor. Please recognize the just the beginning of may accomplishments for Nick Schragel.

National Merit- Commended Students

In late September, more than two-thirds (about 34,000) of the approximately 50,000 high scorers on the PSAT/NMSQT® receive Letters of Commendation in recognition of their outstanding academic promise. Commended Students are named on the basis of a nationally applied Selection Index score that may vary from year to year and is typically below the level required for participants to be named Semifinalists in their respective states. Although Commended Students do not continue in the competition for National Merit® Scholarships, some of these students do become candidates for Special Scholarships sponsored by corporations and businesses. Both of Chardon High School’s students who are recognized this year demonstrate academic and service leadership. They commended not only for National Recognition but for living the Core Values of our school with consistent integrity. Please join me in recognizing Lauren Nichols and Colby Williams.

The Chardon Achievement AwardFrank Elliot presented this award. Congratulations to Nick Schragel for his achievement in the field of Science.

10th Grade Certificates

11th Grade Academic Letters

12th Grade Academic Letters/Pins

Students were not in attendance may receive their award in the Main Office and I will personally congratulate them.

Chardon Science Olympiad Letter Recipients

For the past 33 years, Science Olympiad has led a revolution in science education. What began as a grassroots assembly of science teachers is now one of the premier science competitions in the nation, providing rigorous, standards-based challenges to nearly 7,600 teams in 50 states. Science Olympiad’s ever-changing line-up of events in all Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines exposes students to practicing scientists and career choices, and energizes classroom teachers with a dynamic content experience. The Following students are being recognized for their achievements and contributions and will receive a letter this year from Science Olympiad

CHS has a group of students that are committed to developing a substance abuse prevention program for the school community. This movement started after the overdose deaths of 2 alumni back in Spring of 2015. The students have developed a program they hope will positively impact the school community. This is entirely student led with staff support. The program has 3 key components:

Middle School Program

Middle and High School Building Initiatives

Community Education

Community Gratitude: Mrs. Joan Blackburn

Joan Blackburn is Chardon's finest and most treasured resource. In my 3+ years at Chardon, I have been able to work with Joan in transformative ways. Joan has such a way with her words, presence, patience, and kindness. Joan was provided an opportunity to serve Chardon High School as a catalyst for healing. Her humility is evident in her background presence...but it is through her guidance, purposeful engagement, and deliberate empowerment to students and staff that easily creates a moment like the 'Topper Awards to recognize her contributions that often takes place behind close doors. Joan is a servant leader. You will not meet a more kindhearted women who lives with passion and poise. Whether she is counseling students, creating groups, making home visits, or empowering students in AC4P, Great Pals, Food Drives, Shoe Drives, Community Outreach Programs, or the ASAP students- Joan is a quiet leader that continues to leave a legacy for the students and staff at Chardon High School. Please take a moment to thank Joan when you see her, or leave her a note. We look forward to many more ways that we can learn from Joan this year.

Halloween Costumes

Monday, October 31 is Halloween. However, with all of the excitement leading into week- the Chardon Crazies and the CHS Administration are moving the traditional costume day to today--Friday, October 28.

Our students have traditionally dressed in appropriate costumes at school for the day. Students will be permitted to dress this year, as long as the outfit properly follows the guidelines below. Likewise, the theme for the game this Friday is Halloween Attire.Staff and administration will be extremely diligent to ensure that all costumes are school appropriate and not a distraction to other students in their classes. Some things to consider when creating your costume:

No weapons may be used with the costume.

Do not cover your face or head with any type of mask.

Fake blood or wounds should be kept to a minimum.

There will be no bare midriffs, or risqué costumes.

Halloween Make-up should be used sparingly. We must be able to identify our students for safety reasons.

If administration believes a costume is not school appropriate or is creating a distraction, they will request that a child change clothes, or remove make-up before they may return to class.'

​Becoming Effective Learners Student Survey

On Monday, students will dress in regular attire and we will have a (30) minute homeroom in order to facilitate The Becoming Effective Learners (BEL) survey. The school day begins at the regularly scheduled time. The students will need their Chromebooks. ​This survey has been developed by researchers at the University of Chicago Consortium on School Research to gather data on student non-cognitive factors and classroom conditions to inform teaching and learning and to contribute to positive classroom practice and the utilization of strategies to improve development of students’ non-cognitive factors. This survey is part of the Becoming Effective Learners Partner Project that we shared at our faculty meeting last Thursday.

Students who have returned an opt-out form should not take the survey.

All students including students with disabilities and those students who are English language learners should have the opportunity to complete the survey. Students are required to enter their student ID and birth date to login to the survey. The student survey takes approximately 20 minutes to complete. All surveys should be completed in one sitting if possible; surveys cannot be retrieved once submitted. For this reason, please encourage your son/daughter to take their time when responding to the survey. Students may skip any questions they do not wish to answer.

I truly, truly, truly appreciate your flexibility with the various activities and adjustments that have been occurring with our routines over the last few weeks. Learning is exciting, and often creates opportunities for further growth through purposeful decisions that guide the entire high school experience.

Great Lakes Theater in English Classes

Launched in 1981, Great Lakes Theater's in-school residency program is now one of the most successful artist-in-residence programs in the country. Each year over 16,000 students in over 100 schools experience the pleasure, power, and relevance of classic literature brought to life right in their own classrooms.

Using an interactive, hands on approach, a team of two specially trained actor-teachers visited Chardon High School this week for five consecutive days, teaching five classes per day; the same five classes for the entire week. The actors bring scripts, props, costumes to turn the students into an acting troupe, exploring classic literature from an actor's point of view.

Designed to meet the common core education standards, the residency program is hands on, creative, and interactive. Each day of each lesson plan, regardless of age level, involves three components: acting; discussion; theater exercises. There are days when the students do all of the acting and our actor-teachers serve as their directors. There are days when our actors perform for your students and they are the audience. There are other days when the actor-teachers and students rehearse then perform side by side, with one another. In my years observing this at CHS, each opportunity gives me chills, thrills, and a warm heart knowing that Project Based Learning is allowing the breathe of the curriculum live in the minds of our students.

Chemistry: Elementary My Dear Watson.....Elementary?

Students in Mrs. Jeanne Clark's General Chemistry class are working on their findings in a empirical formula lab. If you don’t know the empirical formula of a compound, you can analyze samples of the unknown compound to identify the percent composition. From there, you calculate the ratios of different types of atoms in the compound. You express these ratios as the empirical formula. Huh? Well, at Chardon High School students are digging deep into chemistry. An empirical formula represents the lowest whole-number ratio of elements in a compound.

As you can see, a week like this---although busy, allows us the opportunity to celebrate all of the goodness that occurs even in the midst of our older facilities. Thank you for your continued support, kind words, and presence in the lives of your children that you entrust with us.

Good Afternoon:Monday, October 31 is Halloween. However, with all of the excitement leading into week- the Chardon Crazies and the CHS Administration are moving the traditional costume day to this Friday, October 28.

Our students have traditionally dressed in appropriate costumes at school for the day. Students will be permitted to dress this year, as long as the outfit properly follows the guidelines below. Likewise, the theme for the game this Friday is Halloween Attire.Staff and administration will be extremely diligent to ensure that all costumes are school appropriate and not a distraction to other students in their classes. Some things to consider when creating your costume:

No weapons may be used with the costume.

Do not cover your face or head with any type of mask.

Fake blood or wounds should be kept to a minimum.

There will be no bare midriffs, or risqué costumes.

Halloween Make-up should be used sparingly. We must be able to identify our students for safety reasons.

If administration believes a costume is not school appropriate or is creating a distraction, they will request that a child change clothes, or remove make-up before they may return to class.

​Becoming Effective Learners Student Survey

On Monday, students will dress in regular attire and we will have a (30) minute homeroom in order to facilitate The Becoming Effective Learners (BEL) survey. The students will need their Chromebooks. Details of the login procedures are in this email.

This survey has been developed by researchers at the University of Chicago Consortium on School Research to gather data on student non-cognitive factors and classroom conditions to inform teaching and learning and to contribute to positive classroom practice and the utilization of strategies to improve development of students’ non-cognitive factors. This survey is part of the Becoming Effective Learners Partner Project that we shared at our faculty meeting last Thursday.

Students who have returned an opt-out form should not take the survey.

All students including students with disabilities and those students who are English language learners should have the opportunity to complete the survey. Students are required to enter their student ID and birth date to login to the survey. The student survey takes approximately 20 minutes to complete. All surveys should be completed in one sitting if possible; surveys cannot be retrieved once submitted. For this reason, please encourage your son/daughter to take their time when responding to the survey. Students may skip any questions they do not wish to answer.

I truly, truly, truly appreciate your flexibility with the various activities and adjustments that have been occurring with our routines over the last few weeks. Learning is exciting, and often creates opportunities for further growth through purposeful decisions that guide the entire high school experience. Please note, and plan for a Morning Pep Rally on Friday, November 4 as we celebrate the accomplishments of our Fall Sport Athletes.

Schedule Task Force Update

The Schedule Task Force was formed three weeks ago to assess our current bell schedule. Our team continues to meet with a focus on the extracted data from our school database. This insightful group of teachers have been digging deep in a needs-based inventory of how we can refine our time to meet the needs of all of our students. Over the past two weeks, the group has worked on creating survey questions for students, parents, and staff to assess their individual experiences with our bell schedule.

Our lens of focus will determine how:

Our collaborative team will assess the data of our schedule with regards to how we use our time, where time is wasted, and how our needs are being addressed.

Our collaborative team will define areas of refinement and areas of reinforcement with our current schedule.

Our collaborative team will determine wants and needs that are assessed (through data) and make action steps.

Our collaborative team will communicate to the Faculty Advisory Committee and the Professional Learning Committee team members clear minutes.

Our collaborative team will visit selected high schools in pairs of (2) and report to the team noted site observations.

Our collaborative team will share insights and recommendations to the Faculty on December 14.

All action steps and communications to parents/students will be formulated from the December 14 meeting.

​This survey will serve as essential data for the Scheduling Task Force as we assess the current bell schedule at Chardon High School. Please consider taking the time to complete this survey; it will provide useful insight to help steer the committee in making recommendations for the 2017-2018 school year. Likewise, an Infinite Campus message and student email has been sent to your son(s)/daughter(s) to take the student survey.

Chardon High School enters the United Nations

Model United Nations, also known as Model UN or MUN, is an educational simulation and/or academic competition in which students can learn about diplomacy, international relations, and the United Nations. MUN involves and teaches researching, public speaking, debating, and writing skills, in addition to critical thinking, teamwork, and leadership abilities.

Participants in Model UN conferences, known as delegates, are placed in committees and assigned countries, or occasionally other organizations or political figures, where they represent members of that body. They are presented with their assignments in advance, along with a topic or topics that their committee will discuss. Delegates conduct research before conferences and formulate positions that they will then debate with their fellow delegates in the committee, staying true to the actual position of the member they represent. At the end of a conference, the best-performing delegates in each committee, as well as delegations, are sometimes recognized with awards.

Chardon High School entered the MUN this year under the vision of several students and the direction of Mr. Mike Mosnik. When Mr. Mosnik asked me about this opportunity eight weeks ago, I immediately responded with ABSOLUTELY! Anytime that our students can model real life application of the lessons that they learn in class--what a phenomenal life skill that is cross-curricular! I am so grateful to the students and Mr, Mosnik for their continued focus on living our core values and showcasing the talents of our students!

AWARDS:

Outstanding Delegate - best overall delegate in each cabinet/committee voted on by the chairHonorable Mention - second place for Outstanding Delegate (best overall delegate) voted on by the chairDelegate's Choice - best overall delegate voted on by members of a particular committee

Senior Mikaylie Park led the way, winning the individual championship in a time of 18:44. As has been the case all season, sophomore Denali Selent gave the Toppers a potent 1-2 punch as she finished 2nd in 19:19. The red and black domination continued with sophomore Molly Greene (6th) and freshman Mila Stropkay (7th) also garnering first team all-WRC honors. Junior Jessica Krebs rounded out the scoring in 19th place, while freshmen Caitlyn Goodrich (21st) Loganne Foster (23rd) and Senior Deanna Ogrinc gave the Toppers yet another finisher in the top 25.

The Lady Hilltoppers will head to the Trumbull County Fairgrounds on Saturday for the district championship meet. The girls’ race is scheduled for 4:50 PM.

Nate Kawalec (Jr) continued an outstanding season with a 1st place finish, running 15:45 for 5k (3.11 mi).Sophomore Brian Horton finished 2nd for the Toppers, as he has in 6 out of our 8 races so far this year.

Freshman Tucker Keeney finished 3rd for the Toppers with a new personal best time (17:24) and was the first freshman finisher in the conference. Mitch Keeney (Sr) finished 4th for the Toppers and was just 3 seconds from his lifetime best.

Kyle Stropkay (Jr) rounded out our scorers as our 5th runner with a personal best by 6 seconds (17:26).

Ryan Connolly (Sr) and Aidan Macaskill (Fr) rounded out the varsity team and were within a couple seconds of their season bests.

The guys head to Trumbull County Fairgrounds next Saturday afternoon (2:50 pm) for the District Championship.

Hey, all UToppers

On Thursday , October 13th, Eighteen of our role model students were recognized as #Utoppers for the months of August and September. What is a #UTopper? Great question. #UToppers are students and staff members who make a positive impact on the Chardon High School Community. Students can be nominated by their peers or staff members using the #UTopper nomination form found on Chardonhs.org. The students recognized live the core values of Chardon High School; Community, Humility, Achievement, Respect, Dignity, Optimism, and Nurturing. Some of our nominees were recognized for:

Making a new student feel welcome

Helping and inspiring others

Giving 110% in classes

Dependable friendships

Congratulations to our 18 students and 3 staff #UToppers from August and September

Active Substance Abuse Prevention

The first day of the Active Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP) occurred on Tuesday. 37 students from grades 9 and 10 have sacrificed their Tuesday morning late-start for such an important task. CHS students will be presenting substance abuse prevention education to the 8th grade advisory classrooms.

News from Guidance

Chardon High School will be administering the ASVAB Career Exploration Program (CEP) on Wednesday, November 16th, at 7:30 am. This test is an invaluable tool to help your student with his/her future educational and career plans.

The ASVAB CEP will help your student:

* to learn about themselves and the world of work* explore occupations in line with their interests and skills* develop an effective strategy to realize their career educational goals

One of the ASVAB scores is the military entrance score/Armed Forces Qualification Test which your student can use to explore career options in the military. Even if your child's scores are released to the military, by NO MEANS is your child obligated to military service.

Students can sign up for the ASVAB Career Exploration Program in Guidance today. We strongly encourage students to take advantage of this opportunity. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the Counseling Dept. at (440) 285-4060 and speak with your child's counselor.

Students/Parents will have the option to not have any scores released to the military upon signing up.

End of the Quarter: How did it go?

From your perspective, how did your son or daughter succeed and make strides in their performance this quarter? What worked? What struggles did you notice?

Chances are, if you are reading this...you truly care about the performance of your children. We all do.

According to recent studies, only 20% of the population sets goals, and as many as 92% of those goals are never achieved. That said, I’ve never met a highly successful person who doesn’t regularly set personal goals.

Goals are critical. They keep you focused on what’s important, and allow you to make the best use of your 24 hours each day. When tackled correctly, they force you out of your comfort zone and help you grow more than you would without them.

And, perhaps most importantly, they give us control of our destiny. Just by setting a goal, you are taking an active role in driving new and better results in your life. What could be more important than that?Teaching our teenagers to set goals effectively can be life-changing. However, as we teach goal-setting to our children, we need to make sure we’re showing them how to use goals to have the greatest possible positive impact on their lives.

Here are six strategies for smart goal setting for teens that can help them maximize the potential of their lives:

1. It must be on their terms

The most important thing to remember is that these are their goals, not yours. One of the biggest mistakes we can make as parents is wanting their children to live in their images and in alignment with their definitions of success. In doing so, parents can unconsciously push their children down disingenuous paths that can result in reduced success and meaning from their goals.

2. Connect their goals to the ultimate currency… happiness!

What we want for our children is happiness on their terms. Now, what does happiness mean? Is it financial success, simply having fun, or is it much deeper than that? The first part of happiness is defined by high emotions such as love, gratitude and joy. The second aspect of happiness involves actions that seem to make time stand still- because they are finding their way and their purpose. The final component of happiness is finding meaning in what is accomplished in life. As we teach them the value of goal-setting, we should orient them toward this authentic life. A great way to do this is to support their process of self-discovery. This could be as simple as a discussion about their interests and strengths, or as involved as applying and sharing their strengths in the service of others.

3. Help them frame their lives

Every year, we ask students to share their dreams and goals. Almost invariably, they focus on planned professions, from athletics to music and medicine to law. Because of the extrinsic nature of our society, it’s easy to get very narrow with our vision for life and lose sight of some crucial components to our happiness. One of the first things you want to do is help your teens frame their lives. Walk them through a simple list of life priorities, which might include things like family, friends, faith, health, education, profession, wealth and social impact. Ask them to consider all these areas as they think about and plan for the future, so they can set goals that will provide the greatest benefit to them. I suggest having them identify their top two or three to get started. This will help them stay focused on a few areas, get some early wins, and set themselves up for larger and greater successes in the future.

4. Teach them to dream big but play small

I see goals more as the critical steps we take on the path to our dreams. The things we measure most often improve in our lives, so we must help teens set goals that are specific and measurable. For example, setting a goal to get straight A’s is much less powerful than a goal to use Cornell note-taking to prepare for each course.. Remember that success is never one huge leap. It is almost always a succession of hundreds or thousands of tiny steps forward… and most likely with a few steps backward along the way. The greatest replicator of success is success. It’s both easy and common to give up on goals – and, therefore, dreams – if they’re too lofty or far away. That’s why it’s essential that goals be discrete and achievable. The sense of gratification they get from accomplishing small yet meaningful goals will help sustain the energy and belief as they move towards greater accomplishments. Help them learn the benefits of keeping goals small, manageable and short-term.

5. They need to take stock along the way

Setting goals can be a double-edged sword. It can drive purposeful action in our lives and allow us to achieve more over a shorter period of time. However, we need to be careful with ourselves and with our children, because goals can also be a source of anxiety.

All of us have the tendency to create a hyper-focus on future circumstances. This can produce an “I’ll be happy when…” mentality, when what we want is to find inner happiness in this moment. With this awareness in mind, try to intertwine the process of goal-setting with an ongoing habit of recognizing existing successes and accomplishments. The present should never be sacrificed for the future, and goals should simply be tools to get the most out of time we have.

6. Make goal-setting as engaging as possible​We all know that, when working with teens, we’re competing with a constant barrage of distractions – video games, social media, and high school relationships. This process is predicated on patience and self-discipline, but we need to change it up a bit sometimes to help get the process started.

We all want what’s best for our kids. Teaching them to think in terms of setting and accomplishing goals will help them become their own best sources for fulfillment, and provide the recognition that they control the outcomes in their lives. Through smart goal setting for teens, we can give our children the most important gift any parent can give: the ability to thrive in life without us.

We are the World

The CHS Choir Department presented their fall concert themed "I'll Make the Difference" this past Wednesday at Mayfield United Methodist Church. The program featured the Woman's Choir, CHS Chorale, Chamber Ensembles, and combined choirs. The music selections​​ for this concert provided hope and inspiration for a challenging world. The concert concluded with beautiful renditions of "America the Beautiful" and "We Are the World". Mr. Fritz Streiff is Chardon's own maestro, magician of music, and orchestrater of awe! His students are so disciplined, poised, and sound on point. I was so blessed to hear the rehearsals on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon. We are truly blessed to have not only his gifts, but his ability to incorporate so many of our students from so many backgrounds to showcase Chardon's best! I highly recommend any aspiring vocal student to take one his courses and participate in the musical side of our theatrical performances!

NROTC Scholarship

A HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to Senior Matt Klingsbergs who will be honored with a FULL ROTC scholarship! Matt is so deserving of this scholarship. Matt is the hallmark of a Chardon student. He is humble, hard working, a leader, and very caring. Matt lives with integrity. I have personally watched Matt work after hours on Wrestling skills, Theater skills, and Academics. Matt is the type of guy who will stop what he is doing to drive his sister to the Geauga Library in the middle of summer for book clubs. We are so proud of him!

The purpose of the NROTC Program is to educate and train qualified young men and women for service as commissioned officers in the Navy's unrestricted line, the Navy Nurse Corps and the Marine Corps. As the largest single source of Navy and Marine Corps officers, the NROTC Scholarship Program plays an important role in preparing mature young men and women for leadership and management positions in an increasingly technical Navy and Marine Corps.​Selected applicants for the NROTC Scholarship Program are awarded scholarships through a highly competitive national selection process, and receive full tuition, books stipend, educational fees and other financial benefits at many of the country's leading colleges and universities. Upon graduation, midshipmen are commissioned as officers in the unrestricted line Naval Reserve or Marine Corps Reserve.

POGS are Back

POGS are back! Government students are participating in a week-long simulation, using POGS (Prohibitive Items Given to Students). The goal is to buy or sell as many POGS as possible, without being arrested by the police. Students serve as dealer, buyers, plainclothes and undercover police officers. Officer Shaw, our resource officer, is the judge and issues search warrants. A trial will take place next week. The goal is for students to know their Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Amendment rights, as well as the rights of officers and the role of government courts.

Language Arts LIVE!

LanguageArts Live! is a speaker and resource program which provides students with examples of how the knowledge they acquire in the classroom translates to the professional world and life beyond high school. The objectives are for students to be able to better understand the various reading, writing and communication skills they are currently learning and to then be able to apply these skills meaningfully to their lives.​The key to the success of this series is parental and community involvement which reinforces our CHARDON core values. We are asking for willing and able parents and community professionals to come into our classrooms and participate in a panel discussion regarding the use of language and communication skills in various settings. Our seniors, in preparation for college and career readiness, are exploring technical and career writing with the help of mentors currently in the professions to which the seniors aspire. We would like to have a variety of professionals explain to the students the importance of effective communication skills, ideally motivating them to be effective communicators themselves. A collection of written “words of wisdom” is another resource we would like to develop and share with the students.If you would be interested in assisting us with this program by participating in a panel discussion (with other parents and community members) to your scholar’s class and peers and/or sharing your thoughts in writing, please contact one of us lynn.monaco@chardonschools.org or dawn.weaver@chardonschools.org (or leave a message at 285-4057). We are currently looking at dates in November for the panel discussion. You would be more than welcome to either speak or write to the students regarding “real world” communication skills.

FCS: Wellness

Sports Nutrition students focused on their mind, body, and emotional well-being this week. Students spent time exploring ways schools around the world have incorporated mindfulness into their school day. They then shared with the class some of the positive results the students engaged in the studies had reported.

Mrs. Anne Ondrey, The Yoga Path, LLC, came into our classroom and shared her experiences and knowledge regarding the nervous system, teenage brain development and mindfulness. Students had an opportunity to engage in a mindfulness exercise. I am so grateful for leadership, vision, and consistently purposeful lessons that Mrs. Kim Butala provides for our students every single day!

Boys XC

After a season that had summer-like weather nearly every weekend, the boys XC team finally had fall-like weather on a flat, dry course and the kids flew.

The team was 8th out of 24 teams which is roughly where we expected to finish.

Brian Horton (So) ran a personal best by 4 seconds (17:14) to be our 2nd man.

The Keeney brothers, Tucker (Fr) and Mitch (Sr), finished as our 3rd (17:25) and 4th (17:29) men. Tucker's time was his best by 5 seconds. Mitch was about 6 seconds behind is best time.

Kyle Stropkay (Jr) had a big race, a personal best by 22 seconds (17:33) to become our 5th and final scorer.

Brad Knez (17:45) ran a personal best by 21 seconds and Ryan Connolly (17:46) was right behind him to round out our varsity runners.

The team has the WRC Championship this Saturday (10:00am) at Kenston High School. We expect a top 3 finish and are aiming for 2nd with strong runs from our #2 thru #5 men. GO TOPPERS!

Graphic Arts: Mr. Murray

Throughout my years at Chardon High School, I had the opportunity to take every Art class and elective offered. The passion of Ms. Palmstrom and Mrs. Clapsaddle invigorated my curiosity in creativity through a different lens. I was challenged, encouraged, and grateful for what I learned. As a Senior, I had a laundry list of things that I wanted to do in my life: Turf Management, Religious Education, Graphic Design, and play professional baseball.

St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA became the canvas in which I was able harness my creativity in multi-faceted ways. There, I double majored in Religious Education and Graphic Design, worked the 5,000 acres every free moment, and played Collegiate Baseball. I was able to use my gifts in talents in the ora et labora Benedictine Tradition. I began to find my purpose; my place. I understood that my life was going to be in the service of others in creative ways.

Later, as a Tutor and Resident Adviser, I refined my leadership in finding my call in Education. Yet, every passion and talent that I had a acquired was utilized as an educator. As a Graphic Design student, I learned many refined fine art skills, and computer design skills. I have designed hundreds of mission-driven logos and thought provoking images in Education over the past 17 years....the most meaningful being as an Assistant Principal and Principal of Chardon High School. Art is therapeutic for me, and lately video creation is too. Creating allows me to re-focus through the hustle of education. Enclosed are a few designs that I have created for CHS.

Students: Use your gifts and talents wherever you are. Every moment to share yourself is an opportunity to impact others in ways undefinable.

Subscribe to my You Tube Channel: watch the announcements, and special videos.Follow me on Twitter: this is the arena in which I share school updates, and art.

News from Guidance:

Chardon High School will be administering the ASVAB Career Exploration Program (CEP) on Wednesday, November 16th, at 7:30 am. This test is an invaluable tool to help your student with his/her future educational and career plans.

​The ASVAB CEP will help your student:

* to learn about themselves and the world of work* explore occupations in line with their interests and skills* develop an effective strategy to realize their career educational goals

One of the ASVAB scores is the military entrance score/Armed Forces Qualification Test which your student can use to explore career options in the military. Even if your child's scores are released to the military, by NO MEANS is your child obligated to military service.

Students can sign up for the ASVAB Career Exploration Program in Guidance today. We strongly encourage students to take advantage of this opportunity. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the Counseling Dept. at (440) 285-4060 and speak with your child's counselor.

Students/Parents will have the option to not have any scores released to the military upon signing up.

Friday, October 14: NO SCHOOL for NEOEA DAY

We do not have school, but take the time to look at Infinite Campus and Google Classroom to make sure that you have what you need to stay on top of your academics. The quarter ends on October 19.

Alumni News

Chardon High School just received news that Topper (the dog) raised at the high school by Megan Chapin ( see link) is going to graduate from The Connecticut State Police Explosives Detection K-9’s program. He had entered College at Guiding Eyes for the blind and had an epiphany there around his Junior year (in dog years) and decided that he wanted to go a different direction with his studies. Congratulations, Megan and Topper!

ICYMI: Weekend Highlights for Topper Football

Next Week

Wednesday, October 19: End of the 1st Quarter PSAT TESTFriday, October 21: Picture Re-Takes

Monday

This week was another opportunity to grow at Chardon High School. It is hard to believe that we are rounding third and heading home at the end of a quarter. As Principal, one of the most essential responsibilities is to be an instructional leader. Managing my time is essential. Everyday, I have a list of mission-driven tasks and goals to accomplish. There is always the plan, and then there is the reality of the undocumented needs that arrive in my office any given day. We all know that this is all apart of the master plan of leadership. Finding the time to multi/multi-task becomes an essential task in the life of a building administrator. Five years ago, I was teaching students and trying to make a difference in the lives of students through learning, service, and athletics. Today, I am blessed to serve nearly 1000 students, and 70 adults in living our mission. I have always been a progressive thinker in education. I am a reflective learner that strives to refine my practice all the time. I am certainly a player to a greater team, but I am never content with second. Oh...I accept the outcomes, but I work tirelessly to strive for more, be more, and live more. Everything surrounds my personal mission statement, and individual purpose which connects to the vision of Chardon Local Schools.​Our choices are one thing that we can control. Our actions emulate our choices, and our character defines our lives. This mantra helps define our purpose. I am a big advocate of empowering students, and adults all of the time. I believe in reflecting on our "Why" before I assess our"How" and our "What".

One of the biggest questions that our children asked at an early age was "why!?" Why does this happen, Why does this do that, or Why are we going here...to a simple-- why does why, why!

Asking probing questions enhances our curiosity throughout life. Many years ago, you chose Chardon as a place to live. You valued the beauty, community, safety, opportunity, and education. There are many other factors that played a role in your decision to choose Chardon Schools, and you entrust us in preparing your children for college, career, and life readiness. We have a shared responsibility in this rearing. This week, I am taking the time to share some of the ways that makes the Chardon Way the Better Way.

Theater Arts Highlights

One of the most popular electives at CHS is Theater Arts. This week, Students were working with improvisational skills. Working unrehearsed, students learned to focus more fully on the motive in each improvised situation. Students developed scenes creating their made up dramatic conflict. The students have been creative, thoughtful, and hilarious. They cannot wait to put on their show for the students and staff at the end of the semester.

Schedule Task Force

On Monday- 14 Teachers, 3 Administrators, and 2 Guidance Counselors met to discuss ways that we can look at the time that we have at CHS to meet the needs of all students and all learning outcomes. This Task Force will meet 8 times- looking at specific school data, assess our needs, create surveys, go on site visits, and make any recommendations to the students, staff, and parents by December 14, 2016. I am very proud of this team and their professionalism in participating in this essential task. With all of the advancements in education over the years, it is best practice to look at why we do what we do. The last time that any adjustment was made to our bell schedule was 1999, and before that, 1983. Further communications and parent forums (evening meetings) will be upcoming in November.

Tuesday

Physics Class

It's a bird, it's a plane...What the heck is Mr. Robertson doing on the roof?

The answer is physics. Students in Physics were implementing their egg drop lab. The egg drop experiment is perfect for learning about gravity and about how materials interact with one another. The end goal of the experiment is for students to create packaging around an uncooked egg to ensure that the egg can be dropped from a height without breaking. The egg drop project involves several physics concepts that the students have studied in class and other concepts that they will have to research.

This is one of 11 events in a year long competition in Honors Physics. Students must construct a device using only paper and scotch tape that keeps an egg dropped from the library roof from breaking. The winner is the team with the lowest mass. ​This year the team of Ryan Connally, Henry Martin and Dan Eierman took first place with a mass of 6.6 g (about 1.5 sheets of paper!) ​

English Classes

English Students had the opportunity to expand upon their learning outside of the classroom this week. These students were able to go downtown the watch the play- Twelfth Night.​TWELFTH NIGHTShakespeare's Enchanting Romantic ComedyBy William Shakespeare

Hope seems lost when a violent shipwreck separates young Viola from her boat and twin brother. However, tragedy quickly turns romantic when she washes ashore in Illyria –an exotic island that is about to be turned topsy-turvy by love. To survive in her strange new world, she disguises herself as a boy messenger and enters the employ of an island inhabitant.

​Activities Fair

Chardon High School is home to dozens of student-run organizations. The students and moderators organized an Activities Fair that showcased many of our student organizations. Groups span a wide variety of interests and passions representing leadership/ community service/ student council/ performance/artistic/technology/ athletics and general interest opportunities.​Activity Fairs are a great way for student organizations to showcase their group, recruit new members, and publicize upcoming programs and initiatives. If you are interested in joining a club, activity, or sport- please see your Guidance Counselor who will point you in the right direction for contacting the right adult.

Girls Tennis

The varsity girls tennis team finished their season on a high note at sectionals with all team members advancing through the first round and Singles players Kaylie Malloy, Lauren Nichols and doubles Claire Hammer and Josie Cremeans made it to the quarterfinals. Varsity team ended the season 12-3 7-2 in the WRC

Girls Golf

Wednesday

The Hilltop Echo

The 2016/17 Hilltop Echo staff has enjoyed it's highest numbers in years as 27 talented young writers are set to produce the official student newspaper of Chardon High School. Having just finished study on an introduction to journalism, the class is ready to publish weekly via our electronic newspaper. Back for his second year as Editor-in-Chief is Owen Vodopivec. Team editors are Austin Arnold and Tyler Palesh working with assistant team editors Allison Wilson and Mitch Bojec. Rounding out the leadership team is Joey Dinko, Director of Social Media. Check them out at www.thehilltopecho.org for the best in Hilltopper news!​

Below is the Hilltop Echo--- A Throwback from 50 years! Thank you, Dave Jevnikar for sharing this awesome document.

Thursday

Students in the ABC’s of Investing have begun the Ohio Stock Market Competition, which runs through December 9th. With the Presidential election in the middle, it should be interesting for them to see how politics influences the stock market. Enclosed is a picture of the students investing.

The Learning Center

Each month, Mrs. Eby (Media Specialist) sends out newsletters and reports for the staff about the news happening out of The Learning Center. Check out her two reports: The Monthly Newsletter, and the Lav Report.

Project Love

Over 50 students between CHS and CMS went to Mentor High School with Ms. Ann Grantham and Mrs. Blackburn to participate in Project Love. Project Love® programming empowers teens to take the lead in building a culture of kindness, caring and mutual respect in their schools.

It's Playoff Time

Not only are the 'Toppers having a historic season, are local teams have a lot to be excited about as the Cleveland Indians are preparing for an October to remember. You gotta believe!​Cleveland hasn't won World Series since 1948, but following Cavaliers' NBA title in June, Indians don't feel pressured to end city's championship drought. The students and staff participated in wearing Spirit Wear today.

Friday

It's #HighFiveFriday! As we prepare for a huge week for Topper Football, an even more powerful story is emulated in the love of family. We are so proud of Tommy, and Nick. They teach us who to live, love, and cherish the simplest things of life. John Kampf, of the News Herald came to CHS to interview the brothers and their inseparable bond. Read More

Follow-up from last week:

Are you interested in learning more about GAFE? Let us know and we will prepare a GAFPE (Google Apps for Parent Education) Forum all for you! Contact ryan.bandiera@chardonschools.org if you are interested in a parent night this.

Like always, I appreciate you and your insight about ways that we can become a beacon for public education. Thanks for all your support. We look forward to seeing you at an event very soon!